View finder focusing and parallax adjustment mechanism



g- 1 1950 J. A. MAURER, JR 2,519,195

VIEW FINDER FOCUSING AND PARALLAX ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1947 5 Sheetg-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN A. MAURE R, JR.

w a wmvn AGENT Aug. 15, 1950 Fild May 7. 1947 J. A. MAURER, JR VIEW FINDER FOCUSING AND PARALLAX ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

JOHN A. MAURER,JR.

AGENT g- 1950 J. A. MAURER, JR 2.519,195

VIEW FINDER FOCUSING AND PARALLAX ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 nllllllllllllll IIIII JIHIIIIIIIIIIH J IIIIIIIIIHH IIIIIIIIIIIH Elli 3. I

F|G.6 l0

3| I27 lZl 43 37 INVENTOR. JOHN A.MAURER,JR. BY%/% a.

AGENT Aug. 15, 1950 J. A. MAURER, JR 9,

VIEW FINDER FOCUSING AND PARALLAX ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 7; 1947 FIG. 8

FIG. IO

R J mR WM mu 1 m N M A A N HW 0 v. B 2 2 2 7 l/ 2 g 6 m m 0 m 7 m 3 m/ m 7 MN I m m 2 2 Mw l/ Patented Aug. 15, 195

VIEW FINDER FOCUSING AND PARALLAX ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM John A. Maurer, Jr., New York, N. Y., assignor to J. A. Maurer, Inc.

, Long Island City, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application May 7, 1947, Serial N 0. 746,565

14C1aims. 1

This invention relates to view finders such as are used in conjunction with cameras and, more specifically, to the focusing and parallax adjustment mechanism therefor.

More particularly, the invention relates to view finders having, on one side of the camera, a vertical pivot about which they are adapted to be swung so that their angle of inclination with respect to the camera may be altered. This arrangement is for effecting parallax adjustment by bringing the field of view of the View finder objective into coincidence with that on which the camera objective is focused.

A preferred mechanism for effecting parallax adjustment involves the employment of a cam, and of a cam finger engaging it. But, in the known constructions of this kind, the cam is mounted, either on the finder or on the camera, in such a manner that it is freely accessible from the outside and its active surface hence fully exposed to dust, dirt, and other accidental damage to its proper functioning.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide, in a view finder, a parallax adjustment cam whose surface is positively protected against damage of the above kind. For that reason, the invention proposes the employment of an elongated cam member which extends horizontally Within the finder housing and is engageable, preferably through a slot in the side wall of the housing, by the cam finger which is mounted to the side wall of the camera. This construction also makes it possible to assemble the finder pivot and the cam finger on a mounting means, such as a clamp, which may be detachable from the camera so that the view finder may easily beremoved therefrom for inspection and repair, and for independent use, for example, for studying camera angles on a set. Since, on the other hand, the support for the mounting means need take up only very little space on the side wall of the camera, the view finder according to the invention can readily be made for attachment to a camera of almost any construction.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide a view finder which, including its parallax adjustment mechanism, may readily be attached to a camera, and easily be detached therefrom.

In addition to being aimed at the same field of view, the finder objective must also be focused on it, and it is desirable to provide mechanism which simultaneously focuses the finder objective and effects parallax adjustment for the particular field of view on which it is focused. Ordinarily, the finder objective is focused by displacing it along its axis whereby its distance from the parallax pivot is changed. If, for exso that the object will be viewed by the finder objective at a perspective which is markedly different from that at which it is viewed by the camera objective, and the purpose of the parallax adjustment is at least partially defeated.

It hence is another object of the invention to provide a focussable view finder whose objec-v tive stays at a fixed distance from the parallax pivot, no matter what angular position the finder housing assumes with respect to the camera. This object of the invention is achieved by using the objective at a fixed position within the housing, and by bringing the image formed by it into proper focus by moving the ground glass of the finder optical system towards and away from the objective. is preferably provided for the ground glass and the elongated cam member so that the parallax adjustment is effected simultaneously with the focusing operation.

It is at times desirable to provide, for use with the View finder, a number of interchangea-ble objectives of different focal lengths. Each ob ective requires an especially shaped cam surface for proper parallax ad ustment and, heretofore, it has been necessary to provide as many cams as surfaces were required. But with the horizontally extending elongated cam member of the invention, it is possible to provide on the I cam surface as many especially shaped active portions as are needed, which portions then are successively engageable by the cam finger. Intricate, and not always reliable, mechanism for selecting a cam and bringing it into operative position is thereby avoided and it, consequently, is still another object of the invention to simplify, and improve, the operation of a view finder in which a plurality of difierently shaped cam surfaces are required for parallax adjustment.

There are various ways in which the interchangeable objectives may alternatively be brought into the fixed position within the finder housing. In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, however, an objective is rigidly mounted at the fixed position, and an auxiliary lens can be swung into the path of the light rays proceeding from the objective towards the ground glass. Thereby, the normal focal length of the objective is altered so that the arrangement constitutes two interchangeable objectives of different focal lengths. Two active portions A common carrying means then are provided for the two objectives on the surface of the elongated cam member, and also mechanism for controlling the position of the auxiliary lens, The control mechanism is actu-v ated by hem n wavin the a ed ass n the caminember in such a manner that first focusing and parallax adjustment is effected for the normal focal length, then the auxiliary lens is interposed between the objective anctthe ground glass, and finally focusing and parallax adjustment is effected for the altered focal length. this operation is fully automatic, and; use. Of. the. proper cam surface portion is positively insured; by the apparatus whose provision is yetanother object of the invention.

Still other objects and advantages of, the in-. vention include those which are hereinafter tats-ii; r par nt r; which are nciden al: othe ieY ei Qa It, h i be noted. hat. t ey terms re t cali iis hor zpntalf batsme -ne dle. he oresoins brief of he vent on a d ts; ob e ts, anil ibeuscd hrous ei t t is spec iica iennct abs lute. sense bu merely, as indicating. We. rections at. ri ht. anslestoeach ther, and ha ho ce between hesetermshas beendeterminedsqlely by convenience. in description, and; illustration. The terms front. and fcrward furthermore, denote direction. towards the. object to be viewed, and. the. terms rear: (or. backjo. and, rearward? denote. directiontpwards haobserv r. The. erms. inner. and; finally, denote direction towards thecamera, and. theterms outer and.outward directionaw-ay fromthecamera.

The. invention. will; be. betterunderstood when.

vation on the scale of Fig. 6 of a motion picture camera showing a modification of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the view finder shown in the drawing has a housing I0 which consists of hollow frontcap I;I and a. shell I2. Within front cap I I there is fixedly mounted the view finder objective (not shown) which may consist of a well known lens-prism-combination form-ing'a reduced image which is erect and correct right-to-left.

Front cap it is, in general, of a cylindrical shape. It hasv a rear wall I3 with a portion I4 which israisedv and recessed so that shell I2 may be slipped over it when front cap II and shell I2 are assembled to form housing Ii); the two parts then being fastened to each other by screws or similar means (not shown) B rden s has a cu -c t it of suh-%-.$l. E as tov permit the light rays passing through, the, nd r Objective to r ce d wari e he amend, glass It within shell I2, an to accornnii odate}a,

. sh de f a purp e o beex la neahereinafter. A boss Ii;- extends from portion I4, and has a counterbored hole I9. for. the, reception of ashaft 2K3 whose-fiat head. 21 rests. onthe co un terbore of hole [91.

Shell I.2 is an oblong. of. rectangular cross'esec 'tion. It has a base plate 22. with two raisedpor tions and 2.4 which. form the rails of. a do tail way 25. H provided in portion 2;. a bearing. 26. whosebore At the front, end of e n, i2. there ijsi .is in. alignment withhole. [9, andjthroug hnvhich the end 2 of shaft 2i). protrudes from shell L2,

the following description is. considered-with. the,

accompanying. drawings, of certain presently pres ferred embodimentsthereof, and its. scope, will.- be. pointed out. in; the. appended. claims.

Inthedrawings;v

Fig. 1- is a perspective viewof. a viewfinder. according to the invention;

Fig. 2-is .an enlarged rear elevation ofonepart ofthefinder-housing;

Fig} 3 is a. perspective View, drawn to the scaleof- Fig. 2, of-the other-part of thefinder housing including a portion, shown in section, o f-the partshowninFig. 2. I r

Fig. dis a perspective viewof the clamp; which pivotally-carries the finder housing;

Fig. 51s an elevation of--the camera side of-the clamp shown in Fig. 4, and of a support adapted to be mounted-onthecamera body;

Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic. perspective' view on a reduced scale showing the viewfinder-- of. Fig. 1 attached to a motion picturecamera;

Fig. 7-is a rearelevation, drawn to the scale of-Fig-. 2, of-the view-finder. of-Fig. 1

Fig. 8 shows in elevation the bottom sideof the base-plate of an inner tube employed in the view. finderof Fig. 1;

Fig. 9-. is a topelevation, drawn to. the scale. of- Fig. 2; of.-an assembly.consistingiof a portion. of-ithepart shown. in. Fig. 2, the.clamp shown in Fig 4 a porti0n,of=the.p1ate. shownin Fig. 8, an,d=the.base.plate of the 'part, shown inFig. 3, a shaft. mounted. inv the. latter plate. being, shown. incnoss-section;

Fig, 1.0: a. bottom elevationofi theview, finder. shqwninFig. 1 with a knoblandta cover,- p1ate be. ns-partly b okenaw y; and;

l e. s o wh t, d a ammati side ele:

7 ing 23, it: acts as a, pivot for, housing Ifllw hich.

z a sufficiently large arc, "clamp 3 8 is suitabl y aded. n en1n.- Q-.a e verse let Referring nowto Figs. 4 to. 6, a, clamp, 3B,sup:.-,. ports at the front end 'of. its finder. side abloclg 3! which is provided withablind tap 32' for, re-...

ceiving the. end 21, of. shaft 2 6,, End 2 .7, has: a fiat.

(not shown) which is engaged by a, set screw 3,3 threaded into bloelgit j softhat shaftili is rigidly. connectedtoclamp 30. Since, onthe other hand; shaft 29, is freely rotatable inhole lfl andbear e.

thus. is, near itsfront end pivotally snipported b shaft. 26. To permit housing lfi to swing throng tenedas at 34 On camera i wlem a vse ailet recess 36 intowhichfits a d E tarllg s u prt 3;? qlssfisg tier e siv n o n y. me ns which; t he; ate achetll a ue lener n f h ameraman o st-mp1s. ti he he as era focusing ys in- A la 44- is cut mi i la. e .5 h n. e ea .5 races; 5., and: eem

upport 31',

pport 37 extendsiherizentally. sdtha when clamp, 31 with housing Lu; is attached to. camera body 35;, shaft is extends-vertically. and hous s I :pi qtsaboutzshai i lz hrcu ha horizontal;- plan t-willhus.heseenthat; by vIirtue-..of the-. arrangement so far described, the view findcnobe. jective stays at, a. fixed: distance from. the.piv.ot about which the viewfinder. isadapted; to swin no matter What. ngular position. housing. It, as.-. s mesw th re pect tolcamerabodytii;

Referringnext. tdFis 3', amt; snounda glass. Iiiis carried: Withinshelh I2 :by an inner tube; 58 to whichit is,suitablyattachediby meansiof; a. holder, 5 I For, observing the. image. formed: onground glass it. bythe; viewfinder. optical system,

a magnifier 52 is likewise mounted within tube 50 and at a fixed distance rearwardly of ground glass |6.

Inner tube 50 is an oblong of a rectangular cross-section which is slightly smaller than that of shell l2. It has a base plate 55 which is, on its bottom side, provided with a dove-tail 56. Dove-tail 56 fits the way 25 on the base plate 22 of shell I 2 so that tube 55 may slide into, and out of, shell l2, and it has a recess 51. On the side away from the camera, there is provided within recess 5i a rack 58 with teeth 59; rack 58 being secured to [plate 55 by means such as the screws 60, 80.

A shaft 6| is mounted for rotation near the rear end of the base plate 22 of shell [2. To that end, it is journalled in the flanged bushing 82 which is inserted into a counterbored hole in plate 22. On the top side of plate 22, shaft 6| has rigidly attached to it a pinion 63 which meshes with rack 58, and on the bottom side of plate 22, a knurled knob 64 is fixedly mounted on shaft BI and separated from plate 22 by a spring Washer 65 and a retaining washer 66.

Inner tube 59 is somewhat shorter than shell I 2 so that, when the rear ends of tube 50 and shell l2 are in alignment, as shown in Fig. 7, the front end of tube 55 touches portion M on front cap II. For that reason, parts of tube 50 are cut away as at 51 and 68 to obtain space for boss I8 and shaft 29, respectively, and at 59 for a similar purpose. Tube 59 may then be pulled out of shell l2 and into the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 6, for example, by turning knob 64 counter-clockwise as indicated by the arrow 75 in Fig. 1. This rearward movement of tube 59 is arrested when the front rim ll of recess 5'1 engages the stop screw 72 which protrudes into way 25 in front of pinion 63 (see Fig. 10). By suitably turning knob 94, therefore, ground glass I6 may be moved towards and away from the view finder objective for the purpose of bringing the image on ground glass It into proper focus.

Referring further to Figs. 2, 3, and 9, the view finder objective is of a general purpose focus. That is to say, its focal length is chosen so that it can be used with a number of camera objectives of different focal lengths provided that its field of view can be corrected by a masking device (not shown) which may be of a suitable conventional design. But when a wide-angle camera objective is employed, the focal length of the finder objective is shortened in order sufliciently to widen the finder field so that it may readily be made to correspond to the field covered by the wide-angle objective. This is done by interposing between the finder objective and ground glass l6 an auxiliary lens 75 of suitable characteristics. Lens is mounted in holder l1, and holder I1 is pivotally disposed within the cut-out l5 of portion H. To that end, a pointed set screw 16 is threaded into portion Id from its top side and engages a ball bearing 17 suitably inserted into the top of holder IT. A hole 18 is drilled into the bottom of holder l7 and opposite bearing 11, and into hole 18 there is partially inserted the hub 19 of a pinion 89. On the side opposite hub 19, pinion 88 is suitably recessed so that a ball bearing 8| can be mounted in it, and bearing 8| is engaged by a set screw 82 threaded into portion M from its bottom side.

In the position of holder shown in Fig. 2, lens 15 is between ground glass l6 and the finder objective whose focal length thus is shortened, while in the position of holder l1 shown in Fig.

9-in which position an angle of approximately 100' is formed between holder l1 and portion l4-1ens 75 is out of the path of the light rays proceeding from the finder objective towards ground glass l6. Mechanism for controlling the position of holder I1 is provided as follows:

A stud 85 is mounted near the front end of rail 24 on shell base plate 22, and mounted for rotation about stud 85 are a gear segment 86 and an actuating lever 81. Gear segment 86 is in mesh with the pinion on holder l1, and has mounted on it a stud 88 and a pin 89. Lever 81, which is on top of gear segment 86, has a broad rear arm 90 and a pointed front arm 9|. In arm 9|, there is provided a round hole 92 into which pin 89 protrudes, and at the front end thereof there is mounted a stud 93. A compression spring 94 is kept in position by the head of stud 85, and mounted over studs 88 and 93 so as to push gear segment 86 inwardly and lever 87 outwardly until pin 89 is engaged by the inner rim of hole 92 as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. Suitable spacers and washers (not shown) may be provided on stud for separating gear segment 85, lever 81, and spring 94, and in order to insure smooth operation.

One end of a coil spring 96 is attached to a stud 9'! on the arm 99 of lever 81, and its other end, by means of a holder 98, to shaft 20. Spring 95 thus pulls arm towards shaft 20 so that lever 81 swings counter-clockwise about its pivot 85 until its swing is arrested by the stop pin 99. On this outward travel, arm 9| of lever 8'! carries with it gear segment 85 because the inner rim of hole 92 pushes pin 89 before it. Gear segment 86 hence likewise swings counter-clockwise about its pivot 55 and, thereby, rotates pinion 80 clockwise. When, therefore, lever 81 and gear segment 85 have made contact with pin 99, holder I! has the position shown in Fig. 9, and in which it is held by the force of spring 96.

Inner tube base plate 55 has on its top side a recess liil of suitable configuration and, within recess If, there is mounted on plate 55 a stud I52 which serves as a pivot for the toggle lever I53; suitable Washers (not shown) being provided also on stud I02 for insuring smooth operation. A coil spring I54 is fastened to a stud 95 on lever H33 and to a holder I85 on plate 55 so as to pull lever Hi3 inwardly towards the stop H11. Lever W3 is a one-armed lever, and carries at its front end a roller I98 for which a seat I99 is provided at the rear end of the arm 90 of lever 81 for a purpose to be discussed hereinafter.

Referring lastly to Figs. 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10, there is fastened, by means of screws H], I ID, to the bottom side of inner tube base plate 55 an elongated cam member MI. Member III is on the inward side of dovetail 55, and extends parallel to rack 58. It has a cam surface ||2 with two active portions I I3 and M, and an idling portion i5; portion l3 extending between the positions A and B, portion ||5 between the position B and C, and portion H4 between the positions C and D, on surface H2. To accommodate member I when base plates 22 and 55 are assembled, a suitable portion of rail 23 is cut away to form a recess H5. Member I thus is fully enclosed by plates 22 and 55 and the side wall ll! of shell l2 so that surface 2 is positively protected against dust, dirt, and accidental damage.

Cam surface I I2 faces inwardly so as to be at a varying distance from camera body 39 when the View finder is attached to the camera by and causes the inner rim of hole 92 to disengage itself from pin 89. Shortly afterwards, lever I03 reaches its position of greatest throw so that now lever 81, too, ceases swinging about pivot 85. Lever I53 continues to swing about pivot I92 until the operation is completed, but the are through which it swings, is so small that it keeps arm 99 substantially in its outermost position; the parts being at the end of the operation in the position shown in Fig. 3. From its arrest by flange l32 on, therefore, holder I! is tightly locked in the position of Fig. 2 on account of the pressure exercised by lever 33 through lever 81 and spring 94 on gear segment 86.

Pulling inner tube 50 out of shell l2 by rotating knob 64 counter-clockwise reverses the operation of the lens holder control and parallax adjustment mechanisms which, in general, function in the manner explained hereinabove. It will be understood, however, that, during the period of travel indicated by the distance I) in Fig. 8, spring I06 now is gradually permitted to pull the toggle lever I03 towards th stop lB'l. Lever 1B3 hence gradually releases the actuating lever 8'! which, therefore, is pulled by spring 98 so as to swing about pivot 85 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby carrying with it gear segment 85 because the inner rim of hole 92 pushes against pin 89.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a view finder having two interchangeable objectives of different focal lengths, two active cam surfaces each of which is adapted for parallax adjustment in conjunction with a particular one of the two objectives, and foolproof and fully automatic mechanism for interchanging the objectives and positively insuring the co-operation of the proper cam surface. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the invention may well be modified to involve manual interchange of the two objectives, for example, by providing for manual operation of lens holder I! from the outside of housing In, in which case gear segment 86, lever 81, and lever I03, and their accessories, may be dispensed with.

Indeed, some of the more important advantages of the invention will accrue also when merely a general purpose focus objective is used in the view finder. In this case, lens holder I! with lens 15 and the mechanism for automatically controlling its position may be dispensed with, and cam mem ber HI may be shortened as indicated by the br ken line Hill in Fig. 8 so that cam surface H2 consists only of portion H3. It then is desirable to make sure that the forward movement of inner tube 50 is stopped after position B has been engaged by cam fin er IZI. This may conveniently be done by suitably shortening rack 58, or by extending the front end of inner tube 50 by a length corresponding approximately to the distances 1) and combined.

The invention also afiords, by the provision of clamp 30 and support 31. a particularly convenient means for removably attaching the view finder to cameras of almost any construction since all that is required is that the side wall of the camera have an area sufficiently large for the mounting of support 3?. But. again. enjoyment of the other advantages of the inventionis not predicated upon this feature. On the contrary, it is entirely feasible to mount block 3 I. cam finger 12!, and spring ho der lM, immediately to the camera body, for example, to the housing I of the focusing system of the camera shown in Fig. 11,

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a rigid camera body having a vertical shaft mounted to one of its side Walls and a stationary cam finger mounted to said wall and in back of said shaft; a view finder housing pivotally supported by said shaft; and objective fixedly mounted within said housing and in front of said shaft; a ground glass mounted within said housing for movement towards and away from said objective, and being in back of said shaft; a movable cam member extending horizontally within said housing and having a cam surface, said surface being at a varying distance from said wall and engageable by said finger; and means supported by said housing for simultaneously moving said ground glass and said cam member.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, and wherein a common carrier is provided for said ground glass and said cam member.

3. In combination, a rigid camera body having a vertical shaft mounted to one of its side walls and a stationary cam finger mounted to said wall and in back of said shaft; a view finder housing pivotally supported by said shaft, said housing consisting of a front cap which is in front of said shaft and of a shell which substantially extends rearwardly of said shaft and has. a base plate; an objective fixedly mounted within said front cap; a ground glass and a horizontally extending elongated cam member within said shell; a common carrying means for said ground glass and said member, said means being slideably attached to said base plate and said member having a cam surface which is at a varying distance from said wall and engageable by said finger; and means supported by said shell for moving said carrying means along said base plate and toward and away from said front cap.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, and wherein said carrying means is a plate carrying on its top side said ground glass and on its bottom side said member.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, and wherein a dove-tail is provided on said bottom side and adjacent said member; said dove-tail fitting a way on the to side of said base plate.

6. In combination, a rigid camera body having a vertical shaft mounted to one of its side walls and a stationar cam finger mounted to said wall and in back of sa d shaft; a View finder hou ing pivotally supported by said shaft. said housing cons sting of a front cap which is in front of said shaft and of a shel w ich substantially extends rearwardly of said shaft and has a base plate: a dovetail way on the top side of said base plate: an objective fixedly mounted within said front can: a ground glass and a horizontally extending elongated cam member within said shell; a plate carrying on its top side said round glass and on i s bottom side said member. and having on said bottom side and adjacent said member a dove-tail which fits said way; means supported by said shell for slideably moving said plate towards and away from said front cap; and; on said member, a cam surface which is at a varying distance from said wall and enga eable by said finger.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, and wherein said means include; a rack mounted within a recessed portion of said dove-tail; a shaft mounted for rotation on said base plate and within the area of said way, said shaft having a top end extending into said shell and a bottom end protruding from said shell; a pinion on said top end and in mesh with said rock; and

a imdb on said bottom end for :rotating said shaft *8, in combination, :a *camera having :a vertical shaft mountedito one of its side and-a-c'am "finger mounted to said wall and back c fsaid :shaft; :a view finder housing pivot-ally supported by said shaft; an'obj ective having a :focal length 'and being fixedly mounted within "said housing and in front of said shaft; aground glass :and 7 a horizontally extending elongated oam member Within said housing, saidimem ber having -a cam 'suriface which isiat a varying distance from-said wall; a common carrier for :said ground glass and said member, said carrier being in back of said shaft and movable towards and away from said "iobjective over a distance; and an auxiliary 'iens position has been effected, while the other is active thereafter.

9. .illhe combination defined in claim 8, and wherein said objective is of a general purpose .iocus, and said focal length is shortened by said lens.

10.. lncombination, .a camera having a vertical shaft mounted to one of its side walls and a cam finger rmount'ed to said well and in back of said shaft; a view finder housing pivotally supported by said shaft; an objective having a focal length and being fixedly mounted within said housing and "in front of said shaft; a ground glass and a horizontally extending elongated carnmember within saidfhousing, said member having a cam 'fsuriace which is at a varying distance from said surface having two active portions "which are successively 'eng'a'g'eabl'e by said finger and one of 'whichis active before'said movement has beeh'eifected,whiletheother isactive thereafter; and means for automatically returning 'said lens to its inactive position Whensaid carrier moves iii-Way from said objective over said :partof fsaid distance. V

T1. In combination, acamera having a vertical 'shaft mounted to one of its side Walls and a cam fin'ger mounted to said wall and in backof Tsaid shaft'; a view finder rhousing pivotal-1y sup- :ported by said shaft; a'n objective ha-v'inga focal -length and being fixedly mounted within said housing 'and in front of said 'shaft; ,:a ground glass and .a horizontally extending elongated cam memb'er within said housing; a common carrier for said ground glass anidis'aid :member, said (carrier being smovable towa'r ds and away from Esa'idwbjectiveover a distahoeya lens-and aholder EthGTBfOI with-insaid housing, said:-holder having a pivot in front of said shaft; mechanism for swinging said holder about its :pivot so -:as to cln terpose said dens between said objective and said (ground glass whereby said focal length is altered, "said mechanism being actuated by said carrier :as it moves towards -said objective lover "part :of said distance; :and, on said member, ?a cam surface being :at a varying :distance irom said Well and engageable by 'said ifinger, and .ihaving a ffirst active portion for use with said focal length and a second active portion for use with said "altered :focal length.

The-combination definedinciaim 11 wherein saiidsurface :has an idling portion-between said :first and second active portions, and wherein said cai rier actuates said mechanism whlle said idling pontion is engaged by said finger.

:13. in'combinationa camerahaving a vertical shaft mounted to one of its side walls and a cam finger amOUIIted --to said wall and in back of said shaft; a view finder housing spivotally supported by said shaft, said housing consisting of a front cap which is in-i-rontof said shaft andof ashell which substantially extends rearwardl y of said shatt and has a base :an objective having a focal length and being fixedly mounted Within :front cap a ground :glass and a horizontally :extending zelcngatedmam member within said shell; -a common carrierfor said ground glass :and-s aid member, said carrier being movable towards and away irom said front cap; a lens and re holder therefor within said housing, said holder having a pivotcnsaid front-cap; mechanism forswingling said holder about its @ivot'so as to move said lens from an inactive position to a position betweensaid objectiveand saidground glass whereby said qi'ocal elength is --altered; and, on :said member, -'a cam surface being at a varying'disfiance from said wall and engageable by said finger, and having a first active portion for use with said iocal length, :a second active portion -f-or use with said alter-ed iocal length and an idling portion "between said first :and second "active rportions tsaid carrier actuating-said mechanism while it moves towards said :frontcap and whilesaid idling portionis engaged byzsaidifinger, and said mechanism including: pinion-onsaid holderr; a gear segment and \a first lle-ver on said base, said geansegment-and said firstleverhavr ing a common pivot, said gear segment being in mesh with said pinion, and-said first lever being operatively connected .to :said gear segment; and a second :lever pivotallymounted on said carrier andbeing adapted .to engage said-first-lever when said ffinger starts to engage said idling portion.

14. The combination defined in claim -i1'3, and whereinspring means are provided :iorreturning said :lens to its inactive position when-said carrier enoves .awayirom said front-cap andsaid idling portion is engaged by said finger.

JOHN .A. 'MAURER, JR.

EQEFER-ENCES CITED The :following references are of record in the file of this patent:

"UNITED STATES PATENTS 

